Packaging machine and method



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PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 23, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. 6ROVR C. (SUPP/1 Feb. 7, 1967 e. c. CURRIE 3,302,365

PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 25, 1963 l0 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,302,365 PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Grover C. Currie, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to Viking Corporation, a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,759 42 Claims. (Cl. 53-29) The present invention relates to a packaging machine and method, and more particularly to a method and means for forming packages from flat carton blanks in a continuous and automatic operation in which the carton blanks are opened, loaded and sealed to form complete packages in a uniquely compact and eflicient manner at relatively high speed.

The packaging machine and method of the present in vention includes feeding collapsed carton blanks from a supply onto a conveyor; setting-up the carton blanks as they are deposited on the conveyor and bowing the setup carton blanks slightly to facilitate loading of contents thereinto; and uniquely applying measured amounts of glue to the ends of the loaded cartons for sealing as the cartons move to the discharge end of the conveyor, all of these operations being accomplished in a compact structure and functioning together to provide automatic and continuous packaging.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, feeding means transfers collapsed carton blanks from a supply hopper to a moving conveyor by first transferring each carton singly to an intermediate platform and then transferring the carton from the platform to the conveyor as a subsequent carton is being transferred from the hopper to the platform. This arrangement permits high-speed operation while allowing the hopper to be disposed directlyabove the conveyor in a location convenientto the operator for loading the hopper during operation, and conserves floor space is compared with a machine in which the hopper extends outwardly beyond the conveyor.

The feeding means cooperates with setting-up means to force the collapsed carton blanks between flights on the conveyor in such a manner as to cause a portion of the blank to fold against one of the flights to an upright disposition, following which the set ting-up means opens the blank about the upright portion, which becomes a side wall of the set-up carton. This setting-up is accomplished without positively setting-up the opposite side wall to a fully upright disposition so that this opposite side wall tends to incline slightly inward and causes bowing of the top panel of the set-up carton, which bowing facilitates loading of the carton. To accentuate and positively control this bowing, a movable restraining member is disposed for movement against this inclined opposite side wall to retain it in inclined, cart-on bowing, disposition during loading.

The loaded cartons are sealed by gluing means that measures predetermined amounts of hot-melt glue from a "supply and disposes the measured amounts in bead form for application to the ends of the cartons. The gluing means is heated to maintain the disposed amounts of hotmelt glue at a temperature sufiicient to render the glue transferable by contact. To apply the glue, the gluing means revolves in timed relation to the advance of cartons on the conveyor to bring the beads of glue into contact with the carton ends and momentarily advances therewith as the beads adhere to the carton and remain thereon as the gluing means retracts.

Thus the gluing means of the present invention provides the proper amount of glue at the proper location and at the proper time, with the bead form providing neat and precise transfer without dripping or waste and the use of hot-melt glue permitting immediate sealing without an extended pressure section being necessary on the machine, which, therefore, can be compactly arranged to 3,392,365 Patented Feb. 7, 1967 discharge the sealed cartons upon final folding after glumg.

The various features and advantages of the present invention are disclosed herein in detail in relation to the preferred embodiment described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the packaging machine of FIG. 1 with the supply hopper and other superstructure removed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the left port-ion of FIG. 2 with the supply hopper in place;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of the packaging machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view, partially in section, of vacuum control means of the packaging machine of FIG. 1, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the glue applicator control switch of the packaging machine of FIG. 1, taken along line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a left end elevational view of the packaging machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a glue applicator of the packaging machine of FIG. 1, taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9a is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 9a-9a of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical system of the packaging machine of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 1117 are perspective views showing the progressive stages of a carton blank being set-up, loaded and sealed to form a package according to the method of the present invention and as the carton blank progresses through the packaging machine of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in a machine 20 for packaging articles 21, such as trays of sliced bacon, in sleeve-type cartons 24. The machine operates automatically to continuously advance carton blanks from a feeding station 100 through a setting up station 200, a loading station 300, and a gluing station 400, with the machine discharging completed packages ready for storage or shipment.

At the feeding station 100, initially collapsed, sleevetype, carton blanks 22 are fed singly from a supply 23 onto a moving conveyor 24 that advances the carton blanks serially through the setting-up station 200, at which the initially collapsed carton blanks are opened to permit end loading and are bowed to increase the loading opening for ease of loading; then through the loading station 300, at which the contents 21 are inserted manually through the set-up open ends of the carton blanks as they move on the conveyor; then through the gluing station 400, at which the ends of the loaded carton blanks are glued and sealed to provide completed packages, and finally to the end of the machine, where the completed packages are discharged therefrom.

A typical example of a carton blank 22 used with this packaging machine is illustrated in FIG. 11. This carton blank has serially connected top, bottom, and opposed side wall panels 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively, that are initially collapsed so that the top wall panel 25 is flat against the bottom wall panel 26, with one side wall panel 27 underying the top wall panel and lying flat with the bottom Wall panel and the other side Wall panel 28 overlying the bottom wall panel and lying Hat with the top wall panel. The carton blank 22 is preferably formed from a single piece of paperboard with the top wall panel 25 integrally connected to the underlying side wall panel 27 along a fold line 29, the underlying side wall panel 27 integrally connected to the bottom wall panel 26 along the initially unfolded score line 30, and the bottom wall panel 26 integrally connected to the overlying side wall panel 28 along a fold line 31. The overlying side wall panel 28 has, foldably extending therefrom, a sealing flap 32 secured, as by gluing, to the top wall panel 25 to complete the serial connection of the wall panels to form the sleeve-type carton blank.

To provide for ultimate sealing of the carton after loading, the top wall panel 25 and bottom wall panel 26 extend outwardly endwise to form end flaps 33 and 34 for folding over the ends of the carton in overlapping relation, and the side wall panels 27 and 28 extend outwardly endwise a distance slightly less than the extension of the top and bottom wall panel end flaps 33 and 34 to form end tabs 35 and 36 foldable over the ends of the carton under the top and bottom wall panel end flaps.

According to the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this initially collapsed, sleevetype, carton blank 22 (FIG. 11) is set-up, loaded and sealed as illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 17. First, the underlying side wall panel 27 and the portion 25a of the top wall panel thereabove are folded to an upright disposition with respect to the bottom wall panel 26, thereby setting-up the underlying side wall panel 27 (FIG. 12). This folded top wall panel portion 25a is then unfolded along the juncture 29 with the set-up underlying side wall panel, and the remainder of the top wall panel is separated from the bottom wall panel (FIG. 13), thereby opening the carton blank for loading. The overlying side wall panel 28 is not positively set-up to a fully upright disposition with respect to the bottom wall anel 26, and, particularly when the score line 37 at the juncture of the overlying side wall panel 28 and its sealing flap 32 is initially unbroken, the overlying side wall panel will tend to incline inwardly and cause a bowing of the top wall panel 25, thereby increasing the opening between the top and bottom wall panels, which facilitates loading (FIG. 14). This bowing can be positively controlled and accentuated as by, for example, the use of a pivoted bowing finger 38 (FIG. 14). The side wall panel end tabs 35 and 36 and the bottom wall panel end flaps 33 and 34 are then folded over the ends of the loaded carton blank (FIG. 15), and glue is applied to the outwardly facing surfaces of the upturned bottom wall panel end flaps 34. Finally, the top wall panel end flaps 33 are down-folded over the gluebearing surfaces of the bottom wall panel end flaps (FIG. 16), with the glue securing the end flaps together to seal the carton and form the completed, loaded and sealed package (FIG. 17).

This progressive manipulation of the canon blanks as they progress through the packaging machine 20 is accomplished automatically by the machine components. Thus, the initially collapsed carton blanks 22 are fed singly from the supply 23 onto the moving conveyor 24 by suction heads 101 that are timed with movement of the convey-or to deliver each carton blank 22 between the flights 39 and 40 of a pair of spaced flights on the moving conveyor. The flights of each pair are spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to the width of the bottom wall panel 26 of the carton blank and the carton blank is initially positioned with the trailing edge of the bottom wall panel at the trailing flight 40, with the underlying, or leading, side wall panel 27 and the portion a of the top wall panel thereabove extending over the leading flight 39 as a result of the spacing of the flights.

As the suction heads 101 are depositing the carton blank between the flights, the underlying side wall panel 27 and top wall panel portion 25a thereabove are folded to an upright disposition by the action of a breaker bar 201 operating in conjunction with the suction heads 101. The operation of the breaker bar 201 results in an initial breaking of the score line 30 at the juncture of the underlying side wall panel 27 and the bottom wall panel 26, and a resulting erection of the side wall panel in upright disposition with respect to the bottom wall panel.

As the suction heads 101 and breaker bar 201 retract, the conveyor 24 advances the carton blank 22 under a fixed hold-down plow 202 that engages the top edge of the underlying side wall panel 27 to retain the panel in its upright disposition, while allowing the folded top wall panel portion 25:! above the underlying side wall panel to be unfolded about the fold line juncture 29 with the underlying side wall panel (FIG. 13). This folded top wall panel portion is then unfolded and the remainder of the top wall panel is raised from the bottom wall panel to setup the carton blank by a pair of opening side plows 203 disposed adjacent each end of the carton blank outwardly of the side wall panel end tabs 35 and 36 in the path of the portions of the top and bottom wall panel end flaps 33 and 34 extending beyond the side wall panel end tabs. These opening side plows 203 first engage the folded top wall panel end flap portions and force them upwardly to unfolded disposition, and then retain the top wall panel end flaps in spaced relation above the bottom wall panel end flaps to dispose the top and bottom wall panels in opened disposition for end loading.

Preferably, the score line 27 at the juncture of the overlying side wall panel and its sealing flap is initially unbroken so that this score line tends to resist a complete right angle folding when the top and bottom wall panels are opened. As a result, the overlying side wall panel 28 tends to incline slightly inwardly, which causes a bowing of the top wall panel 25. As the opening side plows 203 maintain the spacing of the top and bottom wall panels, this bowing is directed upwardly, resulting in an increased spacing between the top and bottom wall panels such as to facilitate end loading of articles into the carton blanks.

This advantageous bowing is positively controlled and accentuated in the preferred embodiment of the present invention by the pivoted bowing finger 28 mounted at an end of the trailing conveyor flight 40 of each pair for pivoting by a cam plate 41 as the carton blank 22 is conveyed to and through the loading station 300. This bowing finger 38, when pivoted, acts on the overlying side wall panel 28 to position it at a controlled inclination for desired bowing of the top wall panel during loading (FIG. 14). When using bowing fingers, it is not necessary that the score line 37 at the juncture of the overlying side wall panel and its sealing flap be initially unbroken, as these fingers will positively produce inclination of the overlying side wall panels.

Prior to loading the leading side wall panel end tab 35 at the rear is folded inwardly across the end of the carton blank by a stationary tab tucker plow 204 and the trailing side wall panel end tab 36 at the rear is folded forwardly by an oscillating tucker finger 206. The carton is then loaded and the leading side wall panel end tab 35 at the front is folded inwardly by a stationtary tab tucker plow 205 and the trailing side wall panel end tab 36 is folded forwardly by an oscillating tucker finger 207. The end flaps 34 extending from the bottom wall panel 26 are then folded upwardly by preliminary flap folding plows 208 over the end of the carton blank outwardly of the end tabs (FIG. 15).

Glue is then applied in bead form to the outwardly facing surfaces of the upturned bottom wall panel end flaps 34, and the top wall wall panel end flaps 33 are folded downwardly by final fiap folding plows 209 that force the top wall panel end flaps 33 into sealing engagement with the glue-bearing surfaces of the upturned bottom wall panel end flaps 34 (FIG. 16) to form a loaded and sealed package (FIG. 17) ready for shipping or storage.

The preferred embodiment of the packaging machine 20 of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, performs the above-described method of setting-up, bow

ing, loading and sealing of carton blanks to produce loaded and sealed packages. This packaging machine 20 has a base frame 42 composed of legs and cross supports, and is mounted on casters for mobility. Mounted on the base frame 42 is an electric vacuum pump motor 43 connected by a belt drive to a pneumatic vacuum pump 44 that provides vacuum for operation of the vacuum heads at the feeding station which were mentioned above and will be described in detail hereinbelow.

Mounted on the base frame 42 and extending vertically therefrom are a front frame plate 45 and a rear frame plate 46 extending the full length of the machine in parallel relation for support of the various machine elements therebetween.

At the left of the machine, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46 extend upwardly above the level of the remaining portions of these plates to provide support for the supply hopper 102 and the operating elements at the feeding station 100. The remainders of the front and rear frame plates extend substantially at the level of the top reach of the conveyor 24 with the front plate providing a mounting for a loading platform 301 in the loading station '300, on which loading platform articles 21, such as trays of bacon, are handled, and from which the articles are inserted into the set-up carton blanks endwise by sliding from the loading platform. At the right in FIGS. 1 and 4, the front and rear frame plates serve to support the elements at the gluing station 400.

The front and rear frame plates 45 and 46 are rigidly secured in spaced relation by a tie bar 47 at the right end of the machine, by a gluing station cross plate 401, feeding station lower and upper cross plates 103 and 104, respectively, and numerous cross members on which machine elements are supported in operating relation.

Two of these cross members are spaced conveyor support bars 48 that support, in the center of the machine, a longitudinally extending, vertically disposed, conveyor support plate 49. This conveyor support plate extends from adjacent the feeding station to adjacent the discharge end of the machine. At the feeding station end of this plate is mounted, in a suitable bearing, a horizontal idler shaft 50 carrying a pair of inner conveyor guide pulleys 51 adjacent the support plate, and a pair of outer conveyor guide pulleys 52 located outwardly of the inner pair. The conveyor support plate 49 carries a drive shaft 53 in a suitable bearing at the discharge end thereof, which similarly carries an inner pair of conveyor guide pulleys 51 and an outer pair of conveyor guide pulleys 52, and, in addition, carries a drive sprocket 54 mounted thereon outwardly of the rear pulley of the pair of outer pulleys. The drive sprocket 54 is driven by a chain 55 trained around the drive sprocket and around a sprocket 56 on a transverse main drive shaft 57 mounted centrally of the machine and extending between the front and rear frame plates. The main drive shaft 57 is driven through a sprocket 58 mounted thereon by a main drive chain 59 that is driven by a sprocket 60 mounted on the output shaft 61 of a gear box 62 on the lower feeding station cross plate 103, with the gear box 62 being driven by belt drive connection to an electric motor 63, also mounted on the lower feeding station cross plate 103.

The four guide pulleys 51 and 52 at each end of the conveyor support plate 49 support four conveyor chains 64 and 65 that are trained around the corresponding pulleys at each end of the support plate. These chains carry the conveyor 24 itself, which is in the form of transverse flat slats 67 secured by angle brackets '68 (see FIG. 8) to the two chains 64 trained around the inner pairs of guide pulleys 51. The outer two chains 65 are trained around the pairs of outer guide pulleys 52, and also support the slats 67 of the conveyor through the upper reach thereof, but are not secured thereto.

As mentioned previously, the conveyor 24 has mounted thereon pairs of transverse flights 39 and 40 that extend upwardly therefrom as they move with the slats through the upper reach of the conveyor. The flights of each pair extend transversely across the conveyor in spaced relation for setting-up therebetween. of a carton blank for end loading. The trailing flight 40 of each pair is secured by the aforementioned slat brackets 68 with the slats to the inner chains 64 to remain fixed thereto, while the leading flight 39 of each pair is supported on the adjacent slat of the conveyor, but is not secured thereto, rather being secured to the two outer chains 65 that are trained around the outer pairs of guide pulleys 52. This attachment is attained by angle brackets 70 secured to the chains and secured to outward extensions of the flights (FIG. 8).

With this attachment of the flights to the chains, the spacing between flights of each pair may be adjusted to accommodate cartons of different sizes by shifting the phase of the pairs of outer pulleys 52 with respect to the inner pulleys 51 so that the leading flights are moved closer to or farther from the trailing flights as desired.

The flights 39 and 40 extend from the slats 67 to a height greater than the height of a set-up carton to provide positive and firm support therefor, but are recessed centrally, as at 71, to accommodate the aforementioned hold-down plow 202 at the setting-up station 200.

The upper reaches of the four chains 64 and 65 are guided and supported at a fixed level by four longitudinallly extending guide bars 72, each of which extends from closely adjacent the pairs of idler pulleys at the left of the machine to closely adjacent the driven pulleys at the right end of the machine. These guide bars 72 are mounted in fixed position by attachment to various cross members, such as the support :bars 48 described above and mounting brackets 73 on a pair of transverse slide rods 433 at the gluing station 300, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring now in detail to the feeding station 100, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, themachine 20 has at this feeding station a supply hopper 102, means for removing and turning collapsed, sleeve-type, carton blanks from the supply hopper to an intermediate horizontal platform 106, and means 107 for delivering the cartons from the intermediate platform onto the previously-described conveyor 24 between the flights 39 and 40 thereon.

The supply hopper 102 is located between the upward extensions of the'front and rear'frame plates'45 and 46 above the conveyor 24 and extending in the longitudinal direction of conveyor advancement for support of a stacked supply 23 of vertically disposed, collapsed, sleevetype, carton blanks 22 in a supply llll'le extending parallel with the conveyor, with the hopper having a discharge end 108 facing in the opposite direction, i.e. to the left in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. a

The supply hopper 102 has a pair of longitudinally extending base flats 109 supported on cross bars 110 that extend between the front and rear frame plate extensions, and on which also are mounted brackets 111 that support opposed side members 112, which cooperate with the :base flats 109 to retain the supply 23 of carton blanks in proper position as they advance through the supply hopper.

The stack of carton blanks is maintained in feeding position at the discharge end 108 of the supply hopper by.

a pair of retaining fingers 113 acting on the back of the stack. These retaining fingers 113 extend behind the stack from slide brackets 114 slidab'ly mounted on longitudinal slide rods 115 that are supported on struts 116 extending upwardly from the cross bars 110. The slide brackets 114 are centrally bored, as at 117, for mounting on the cylindrical slide rods, and have longitudinal slots 118 communicating with the bores 117 and extending downwardly through the brackets to accommodate the struts 116 as the brackets 114 slide on the slide rods. The brackets are normally positioned with the slots aligned with the struts as the retaining fingers rest on the side members as they extend inwardly behind the stack.

The slide rods 115, base flats 109 and side members 112 are inclined downwardly toward the discharge end 108 of the supply hopper to facilitate feeding of the carton blanks thereto with the weight of the brackets and retaining fingers pushing against the supply of carton bllanks by gravity. Downward sliding of the retaining fingers 113 and slide brackets 114 is arrested as the supply of carton blanks is exhausted by enlargements 119 on the ends of the slide rods 115, which stop the brackets thereat.

The cartons are removably positioned at the discharge end 108 of the supply hopper 102 by small stop lugs 120 extending upwardly from the base flats 109, and by a retaining rod 121 extending transversely between the upstanding frame plates and 46 adjacent the top of the first carton blank in the supply. Carton blanks are removed past these stop lugs 120 and positioning rod 121 singly by the removing and turning means 105, which picks up the first carton blank in the supply 23 and pulls it away therefrom, causing the carton blank to flex and slide over the stop lugs 120 and under the positioning rod 121. To avoid additional carton blanks from sliding past the stop lugs and positioning rod, when the first carton blank is removed, the end portions of the base flats 109 at the discharge end are shaped to extend horizontally, such that the first several cartons in the stack are in a horizontal, rather than an inclined, row.

With the supply hopper structure as described above, the supply of carton blanks is arranged close to the operator, who is normally at the loading station 300 and can easily supplement the supply :by placing additional carton blanks behind the retaining fingers 113, pivoting the slide brackets 114-to move the retaining fingers out of the path of the carton blanks, sliding the brackets to the end of the stack and pivoting the fingers behind the supplemented supply. As there are two retaining fingers and slide brackets, one can remain in operating position as the other one is retracted, thereby maintaining a constant supply pressure on the stack of cartons.

The aforementioned removing and turning means 105 has a pair of spaced suction heads 122 with bellows-type suction cups 123 thereon facing the carton blanks at the discharge end 108 of the supply hopper 102 above the base flats 109 thereof for engagement of the carton blanks by suction. The suction heads 122 are laterally spaced on a cylindrical sleeve 124 that is oscillatably mounted on a horizontal mounting rod 124 fixed to the ends of a pair of rocker arms 125, which rocker arms are fixed on a horizontal rocker shaft 126 mounted in bearing blocks 128 on the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46. The rocker shaft 126 is oscillated by a slotted operating arm 129 connected by a crank pin 130 slidable in the slot of the operating arm and attached to a rotating crank plate '131 mounted on the driven shaft 61 of the aforementioned gear box 62. Rotation of the crank plate 131 causes oscillation of the rocker shaft 127 by the crank pin 130 and slot connection for oscillation of the rocker arms 126 to move the suction heads 122 between the supply hopper 102, for picking-up carton blanks, and the intermediate platform 106, for discharge thereonto of the picked-up carton blanks.

When the suction heads 122 are positioned at the supply hopper 102 by the rocker arms 126, they are horizontally disposed by the engagement of a cam follower pin 133 mounted on a control arm 134 extending from the suction head sleeve 124 on the opposite side thereof from the suction cups 123 with the lower cam surface 135 of a cam plate 136 that depends from the upper feeding station cross plate 104. The cam surface 135 of the plate includes a horizontally extending portion on which the cam follower pin rides when the suction heads are positioned horizontally at the discharge end of the supply hopper for picking up carton blanks therefrom, and curves upwardly at the left in FIG. 4 to a generally vertical position for movement of the cam follower pin 133 thereon to pivot the suction heads 122 to a vertical, downwardly facing, disposition upon oscillation to the left in FIG. 4, to turn the carton blanks from their vertical position, when withdrawn from the supply hopper, to a generally horizontal disposition above the intermediate platform 106 for placement thereon.

The operating arm 129 is biased upwardly to retain the cam follower pin 133 in cam following contact with the cam plate 136 by a coil spring 137 having one end connected to a lug 138 on the operating arm 129 and the other end connected to a lug 139 extending from the cam plate 136 thereabove.

Suction is obtained at each suction cup 123 through a central bore in a plug 140 that serves to seat the bellowstype suction cup 123 on the suction head 122. This central bore communicates with a passage in the suction head that is connected in turn by a tube connection 141 to a flexible hose 142 leading exteriorly of the suction head to a valve mechanism 143 connected by tubing 144 to the aforementioned vacuum pump 44.

The valve mechanism 143, as illustrated in FIG. 5, has an interior chamber 145 communicating between the tubing 144 from the vacuum pump and the flexible hoses 142 leading to the suction heads. A valve stem 146 extends through the central portion of this valve chamber 145 and carries a valve seat 147 operable against a shoulder 148 of the chamber intermediate the suction head and pump inlets to close the valve. The valve stem 146 extends exteriorly to the left in FIG. 5, and carries a closure plate 149 engageable over a port 150 for opening and closing the suction head side of the valve chamber 145 to the atmosphere. When the valve stem 146 is at the left, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the valve seat 147 is against the shoulder 148 to close the suction head flexible hoses 142 from the vacuum pump 44, and the closure plate 149 is spaced from the port 150 to allow air to enter the valve chamber 145 and pass through the flexible hoses to the suction heads 122 to release suction thereat. When the valve stem 146 is moved to the right, the closure plate 149 closes the port 150 and the valve seat 147 moves away from the shoulder 148 to connect the vacuum pump 44 to the flexible hoses 142 for drawing vacuum in the suction cups 123.

The valve stem 146 is reciprocated by a bell crank 151 pivoted on the valve mechanism with one arm 152 of the bell crank 151 connected to the end of the valve stem 146 and the other arm 153 of the bell crank connected to one end of a cam follower arm 154, the other end of which rides on a cam disk 155 having adjustable outwardly extending segments 156 that engage the follower element 157 of the cam follower arm 154 to rock the bell crank 151 as the segments 156 are rotated past the cam follower element 157.

The cam disk 155 is mounted for rotation on a transverse timing cam shaft 158 extending horizontally between bearing mountings 159 on the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46, and driven from the gear box shaft 61 by a chain and sprocket connection 160.

The adjustable segments 156 of the cam disk 155 are adjusted in relation to the oscillation of the suction heads 122 so that suction is drawn at the suction cups from prior to contact with the carton blank in the supply hopper 102 until the carton blank is withdrawn and turned to a horizontal position above the intermediate platform 106, at which time the cam disk segments 156 advance past the cam follower element 157 to operate the valve mechanism 143 to close the vacuum pump con nection and open the suction cups to the atmosphere, which allows the carton blank to drop from the suction heads onto the intermediate platform.

The intermediate platform 106 is located below the carton discharge position of the suction heads 122 to the left of both the supply hopper 102 and the conveyor 24 and vertically therebetween. The intermediate platform 106 has a carton receiving bottom surface 161, an upstanding back wall 162 and opposed upstanding side walls 163 for receiving and properly positioning carton blanks as they are discharged from the suction heads, but is unwalled forwardly to facilitate subsequent removal of carton blanks therefrom by the delivery means 107. The intermediate platform 106 is mounted on the machine 20 by attachment of the back wall 162 thereof to a support plate 164 extending between the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46 of the machine.

The delivery means 107 of the illustrated preferred embodiment is a parallel, double lever, operating mecha nism that picks-up carton blanks from the intermediate platform 106 and translates them in their horizontal disposition onto the conveyor 24 between flights 39 and 40 of the aforementioned pairs of conveyor flights at the setting-up station 200 of the machine.

The delivery means 107 includes a pair of laterally spaced suction heads 101 having downwardly facing bellows'type suction cups 166 similar to those of the removing and turning means 105 described above. The suction heads 101 have top plates 167 extending forwardly to attachment to the underside of a flat horizontal support plate 168 that extends laterally and has upstanding end flanges 169 with longitudinally spaced pivot mountings 170 thereon. Each of these flanges 169 is attached to a pair of longitudinally spaced, parallel, rocker arms 171 by pin connection of the outer ends 172 of the rocker arms 171 at the spaced pivot mountings 170 of the flange 169. These pairs of parallel rocker arms have their other ends 173 pivotally mounted in bearings 174 on the front and rear frame plates, with one of the rocker arms 171 having an operating arm 175 extending therefrom on the opposite side of the frame plate bearing 174, to the outer end of which operating arm is pivoted one end of a connecting rod 176 that it has its other end pivoted to a rocker finger 177 oscillatatably mounted on a stub shaft 178 secured to the rear frame plate 46. This rocker finger 177 is oscillated by a connecting rod 179 that has one end attached to the rocker finger and its other end attached to a crank pin 180 on a rotating disk 1 81 fixed to the gear box shaft 61. Thus, rotation of the gear box shaft produces oscillation of the delivery means suction heads 101 from a carton pick-up position at the intermediate platform 106 to a carton delivery position at the conveyor 24, with the double lever arrangement resulting in the carton blanks being retained in horizontal disposition as they are translated by the delivery means 107 from the intermediate platform 106 to the conveyor 24.

Suction is obtained at the suction heads 101 by structure identical to that of the removing and turning means suction heads 122, with an identical valve mechanism 182 and valve operating linkage 183. In this case, the cam segments are adjusted to produce suction at the suction cups 166 prior to the suction heads 101 reaching the intermediate platform 106 until the suction heads 101 have carried a carton blank to its proper delivery position on the conveyor 24.

The removing and turning means 105 and the delivery means 107 operate continuously with the delivery means removing a cart-on blank from the intermediate platform 106 and delivering it to the conveyor 24 as the removing and turning means 105 withdraws a carton blank from the supply hopper 102 and delivers it to the intermediate platform 106. This operation is synchronized in proper phase relation by adjustment of the crank plates 131 and 181, which are mounted on the common gear box shaft 61. Also, the delivery means 107 is synchronized with the advance of the pairs of flights 39 and 40 on the conveyor to deliver carton blanks in proper position between flights by adjustment of the crank pin disk 181 with respect to the conveyor drive sprocket 60, both being carried on the gear box shaft 61.

. The carton blanks 22 are still in collapsed condition as they are deposited by the delivery means 107 onto the conveyor 24 between flights 39 and 40 at the setting-up station 200, but are immediately acted upon to initiate setting-up of the carton blanks, which setting-up continues 10 as the carton blanks are conveyed through the setting-up station. The initial setting-up action is the forcing of the collapsed carton blank downwardly into the restricted space between flights 39 and 40, which causes tip-folding of the underlying side wall panel 27 and the top wall panel portion 25a thereabove. This is accomplished by the aforementioned laterally extending horizontal breaker "bar 201,

which is fixed to the lower ends of vertical support rods 210 secured in the horizontal top plates 167 of the suction heads 101 in advance of the suctioncups 166. The support 'rods 210 are adjusted to extend downwardly suflicient to position the breaker bar 201 at about the level of the bellows-type suction cups 166 when these cups are collapsed, and are spaced in advance of the suction cups to position the breaker bar closely adjacent the leading flight 39 as the suction cups move downwardly between flights to deposit the carton blank therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 12 (this relationship is not shown in FIGS. 2 and 4). The action of this breaker bar 201 causes a breaking of the score line 30 at the juncture of the underlying side wall panel 27 and the bottom wall panel 26 so that the side wall panel can be retained in proper upright disposition with respect to the bottom wall panel. As this partially set-up carton blank is released by the suction cups, and the suction head and breaker bar begins the return stroke, the underlying side wall panel 27, which is now the leading side wall panel, passes under the aforementioned centrally disposed holddown plow 202, which is located immediately adjacent the forward position of the breaker bar 201 and extends downwardly into the aforementioned recesses 71 in the flights. The hold'down plow 202 has a downwardly tapering carton blank engaging surface 211 that initially engages the carton blank at the juncture 29 of the leading side wall panel 27 and the top wall panel 25 to further seat the side wall panel in proper upright disposition by downward movement thereof as the cart-on blank progresses therealong, and has a horizontal surface 212 extending forwardly from the inclined surface 211 at the lower level thereof to retain the leading side wall panel in its proper upright disposition. is mounted on an angle bracket 213 that has an upstanding portion adjustably secured to a vertical plate 214 that depends from the supply hopper cross bars 110. Adjustment of the bracket 213 on the plate 214 is provided to allow for vertical adjustment of the hold-down plow for carton blanks of different heights.

As the leading side wall panel begins to move under the hold-down plow 202, the top wall panel 25 and bottom wall panel 26 of the carton blank are separated to open the carton blank by the pair of oppositely disposed opening side plows 203 formed inwardly on lateral positioning plows 215. The positioning plows 215 have diverging ends facing the feeding station and tapering to the remaining longitudinally extending portions of the plows, which remaining portions are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the distance between the ends of opposed end flaps. Thus, these positioning plows 215 serve to align the progressing carton blanks in proper disposition for the succeeding operations that are to be carried out thereon. The opening side plows 203 overlap the holddown plow 202, and are of a thickness inwardly of the lateral positioning plows 215 not more than the distance that the carton end flaps 33 and 34 extend outwardly beyond the end tabs 35 and 36, such that the opening plows do not engage the end tabs, but do engage the end flaps to separate the top and bottom wall panels for opening of the carton blank as it is retained by the hold-down plow- This hold-down plow- 201 action. As the carton blank progresses along the opening plows 203, the plows first force the folded top Wall panel portion 25a upwardly about the juncture 29 of the top wall panel with the leading side wall panel and then engage the remaining portions of the top end flaps 33 to force the top wall panel and its end flaps to a generally horizontal disposition, with the lower surfaces of the opening plows engaging the bottom end flaps 34 to retain these end flaps an dthe bottom wall panel in fiat disposition on the conveyor.

The lateral positioning plows 215 and the opening side plows 203 carried thereby are mounted on the outer faces of longitudinally extending side plates 216 supported on various cross members of the machine with the upper surfaces of the side plates aligned with the bottom wall panel 26 and bottom end flaps 34 of the carton blanks for support thereof as the carton blanks progress on the conveyor.

These side plates 216 are literally movable simultaneously to adjust the spacing between the plows carried thereon when the machine is adjusted to handle a different size carton. This adjustment is accomplished by a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse adjusting rods 217 that have opposite ends threadably seated in opposite side plates 216 and threaded oppositely so that upon turning of the adjusting rods 217, the side plates 216 will be moved toward or away from each other, as desired. The adjusting rods 217 are rotated simultaneously by a chain 218 trained over sprockets on the adjusting rods and over a set of idler sprockets 219 on shafts mounted on the conveyor support plate 49. At the discharge end of the machine, the side plates 216 are adjustably attached by brackets 220' to the transverse tie bar 47 of the frame.

Closely adjacent the rear opening side plow 203 in the direction of conveyor advancement is a rear end flap retaining top plow 221 that tapers downwardly in the direction of conveyor advancement to the level of the opened top wall panel 25 and top end flap 33 extending therefrom to engage and retain the end flap and associated top wall panel in proper opened position throughout the setting-up station and loading station.

Under the initial inclined portion of the top plow 221 is a stationary rear tab tucker plow 204 that tapers inwardly toward the conveyor in the direction of conveyor advancement to a longitudinal portion aligned with the end of the leading side wall panel 27 for engagement of the end tab 35 extending therefrom: to fold this end tab inwardly at the end of the carton. This stationary tab tucker plow 204 extends through the loading station 300 to serve as a backstop against which articles are positioned as they are loaded into the opened carton, and also serves to retain the top end flap 33 and top wall panel 25 in opened disposition.

Associated with the stationary tab tucker plow 204 and accommodated in a longitudinal slot at the tapered end thereof is an oscillating tucker finger 206 mounted for oscillation on a vertical shaft 224 mounted in a bracket 225 fixed to, and extending outwardly from, the rear side plate 216. As seen in FIG. 2, this oscillating tab tucker finger 206 is oscillatable in the direction of conveyor advancement into the path of the end tab 35 extending from the trailing or overlying side wall panel 27 in timed relation to the advancement of carton blanks, and is driven by a driving connection of a conventional type to the aforementioned main drive shaft 57 so that as the cartons advance the oscillating tab tucker finger 206 will engage behind the end tab of the trailing side wall panel to fold it forwardly at the end of the carton, with the tucker finger being accommodated in the aforementioned slot of the stationary ta b tucker plow 204, which engages the folded trailing end tab and retains it in folded position.

As the opened carton blank advances from under the previously described hold-down plow 202, the top wall panel 25 is free to bow upwardly. Such bowing may be caused in part or entirely by resistance of the fold line 37 at the juncture of the top wall panel 25 and the trailing side wall panel 28 to fold to a full right angle, which resistance is accentuated if the fold line is an unbroken score line. This upward bowing remains as the carton blank progresses through the loading station to facilitate loading of contents 21 endwise into the setup carton blank.

This upward bowing may be positively controlled and further accentuated by the aforementioned bowing fingers 38, which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on pivot pins 74 extending laterally from the trailing flights 40, and are retained in a generally vertical disposition by a retaining pin 75 extending laterally from the trailing flight above the pivot pin, which retaining pins 75 are contained in horizontal slots 76 in the upper ends of the bowing finers 38, with the slots 76 extending sufficiently to permit limited pivoting of the upper end of the bowing finger in the direction of conveyor advancement to engage the trailing side wall panel 28 and incline it in the direction of conveyor advancement to impart desired bowing to the top wall panel 25.

Pivoting of the bowing fingers 38 is accomplished by a cam plate 41 extending longitudinally from the area of the hold-down plow 202 into the loading station 300. This cam plate 41 is mounted on the front conveyor chain guide bar 72 in vertical alignment with the path of the bowing fingers 38, and has a camming surface 227 extending upwardly from the area of the hold-down plow 202 in the direction of conveyor advancement to a horizontal portion. The lower ends of the bowing fingers 38 extend downwardly for engagement of the camming surface 227 of the cam plate so that the cam plate 41 will displace the lower ends of the bowing fingers to pivot them about the pivot pins 74 and pivot the upper ends into engagement with the carton side wall panels 28 for bowing of the top wall panels 25, with the cam plate 41 retaining the bowing fingers 38 in pivoted position as the carton blanks are loaded at the loading station 300.

Beyond the loading station 300' in the direction of carton advancement is a front stationary tab tucker plow 205 and an oscillating tab tucker finger 207 of identical construction and operation as the rear stationary tab tucker plow 204 and rear oscillating tab tucker finger 206 described above, for folding of the end tabs 34 and 35 at the front edges of the side Wall panels 27 and 28 into folded disposition. Adjacent the forward ends of the front tab tucker plow 205 and the extension of the rear ta b tucker plow 204, and slightly overlapping these plows, are preliminary end flap folding plows 208 that are inclined upwardly from below these previous plows to horizontal portions just below the top wall panel 25 and in line with the top end flaps 33 for folding of the bottom end flaps 34 upwardly across the ends of the cartons and over the previously tucked end tabs 35 and 36 to position the bottom end flaps 34 for receipt of glue as the carton is conveyed through the gluing station 400 by the moving conveyor 24.

In the embodiment illustrated, glue is applied to the up-turned bottom end flaps 34 in the form of a plurality of spaced beads 402 of hot-melt glue applied by a pair of opposed glue applicators 403 at opposite sides of the mov ng conveyor 24. The glue may consist of any des1red combination of waxes and resins commercially available for use in sealing paperboard cartons.

The carbon blank flaps 34 and 35 and tabs 35 and 36 are maintained in proper position as the glue beads 402 are applied by the glue applicators 403 by the aforementroned preliminary end flap folding plows 208, which extend through the glue applicating position above the level of glue heads 404 of the glue applicators for support of the unfolded top end flaps 33 as the glue heads engage the upfolded bottom end flaps 34. The carton blanks are maintained in proper vertical alignment with the glue heads of the glue applicators by support on the aforementioned side plates 216, with the carton blanks being retained thereon by hold-down plates 405 mounted above the side plates at the bottom of adjustable vertical support rods 406 that are adjustably mounted in longitudinal elements 407 of a superstructure 408 that extends upwardly from and is mounted on the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46. Vertical adjustment of the support rods 406 is accomplished by hand wheels 409 threadably attached to the support rods and carried on top of the longitudinal elements 407, in which the vertical support rods slide upon rotation of the hand wheels to vertically adjust the position of the hold-down plates to accommodate changes in carton size.

Attached to upstanding flanges 231 on the preliminary end flap folding plows 208 adjacent the glue applicators 403 are a pair of opposed final end flap folding plows 209 that extend downwardly from above the carton blanks at the glue applicators into the path of the unfolded top end flaps 33 beyond the glue applicators for down-folding of the top end flaps onto the glue-bearing upfolded bottom end flaps 34. These final end flap folding plows 209 extend a short distance beyond the glue applicators 403 with vertical surfaces that bear against the down-folded top end flaps 33 to assure contact of the end flaps sufficient to cause the glue to seal the flaps together to complete the formation of a loaded and sealed package. In this sealing space, the final end flap folding plows 209 are attached to the outer sides of the aforementioned side plates 216 on which the carton blanks ride as they are discharged from the end of the conveyor for removal from the machine.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 9 and 9a, the glue heads 404 of the glue applicators 403 have elongated carton facing surfaces 410 with a plurality of spaced transfer ports 411 thereon, at which ports glue is disposed in bead form for application to the upfolded bottom end flaps 34 of the carton blanks. These transfer ports 411 are formed in the ends of replaceable cylindrical inserts 412 that can be replaced by other inserts having differently contoured ports for varying the bead size depending upon the particular application and type of glue. These replaceable inserts 412 have interior channels that communicate with feeding channels 413 extending horizontally inward from each insert 412 to the topof a cylindrical, transversely extending, distribution chamber 414 that distributes glue uniformly to all feeding channels 413, with the communication of the feeding channels at the top of the distribution chamber 414 allowing intermittent feeding of glue without undesirable draining of glue between intermittent feedings.

The glue head 404 is mounted on the base 415 of the glue applicator 403 with the distribution chamber 414 having an opening 416 communicating with a transverse cylindrical supply passage 417 in the base 415, which supply passage 417 extends to a position below, and opening upwardly into, a supply reservoir 418 in which glue is maintained for feeding through the supply passage 417, distribution chamber 414 and feeding channels 413 to the transfer ports 411. Feeding of the glue is positively controlled by a Worm 419 disposed in the cylindrical supply passage 417 and having a shaft 420 extending outwardly from the supply passage through a bore 421 in the glue applicator base 415. This worm shaft 420 is driven through a clutch connection 422 by an electric motor 423 for intermittent operation of the worm 419 to advance glue to the transfer ports 411 for forming of glue beads 402 thereat.

In the preferred embodiment, in which a hot-melt glue is used, heating means are provided for maintaining the glue at optimum temperature as it is fed to the transfer ports 411 and as the glue is in bead form at the transfer ports for application to the carton blanks. This heating means includes a plurality of elongated electrical heating elements 424 of any desired commercial construction, such as those made by Hotwatt, Inc., of Danvers, Mass.

These heating elements 424 are mounted in bores in the glue applicator base 415 adjacent the supply passage 417 and adjacent the lower portion of the reservoir 418, and also in the glue head 404 adjacent the feeding channels 413. These heating elements 424 are connected by lead lines to a source of electricity through intermediate control means, such as a Wheatstone bridge, to which is connected thermistor, probe-type, control rods 425 mounted in bores in the glue applicator base 415 and in the glue head 404 to detect the temperatures therein. These thermistor control rods 425 may be of any commercial design, such as those manufactured by Fenwall, Incorporated of Ashland, Mass, which are designed to vary the resistance in proportion to temperature variation to vary the electrical input from the Wheatstone bridge to the heating elements for maintaining a predetermined temperature in the glue applicator base and in the glue heads. Thus, the temperature of the hot-melt glue beads 402 at the transfer ports 411 can be maintained at a desired level to render the glue readily transferable upon contact and to control the surface tension of the beads so that the glue will remain in head form without dripping, with the contour of the transfer ports 411 and the controlled feeding of glue determining the size of the beads 402 such that the beads are not sufliciently large to overcome the surface tension.

The glue applicators 403 are movably mounted for simultaneous movement to bring the transfer ports 411 of the glue heads 404 into contact with the upfolded bottom end flaps 34 of the carton blanks as the carton blanks move continuously on the conveyor 24. To accomplish this movement, each glue applicator 403 is mounted on a platform 426 on which the worm drive motor 423 is also mounted, and this platform 426 is slidably carried on a carriage 427, with the platform having downwardly facing transverse racks 428 slidable in grooves of the platform with a pinion 429 in the platform mating with the racks for adjustment of the glue applicators toward or away from the conveyor to accommodate different size cartons. Each carriage 427 is mounted for linear sliding movement parallel to the direction of conveyor movement on a pair of spaced movable slide rods 430 that extend parallel to the conveyor. These movable slide rods 430 are mounted between upstanding brackets 431 on a subcarriage 432 that is mounted for linear sliding movement transverse to the conveyor on a pair of stationary main slide rods 433 that extend across the machine under the conveyor for support of the subcarriages 432 of both glue applicators 403 on the single pair of main slide rods 433, with the ends of the main slide rods being mounted on outward extensions 77 of the front and rear frame plates 45 and 46 of the machine, which extensions 77 are provided to accommodate sliding movement of the glue applicator mechanisms. Also, to accommodate this movement, the front and rear frame plates are recessed, as at 78, at the glue station 400.

The combination of the transverse sliding of the subcarriages 432 on the main slide rods 433 and the longitudinal sliding of the carriages 427 on the subcarriage slide rods 430 permit translation of the glue applicators 403 in any direction while maintaining the elongated carton facing surfaces 410 parallel with the end flaps 34 of the carton blanks.

The glue applicators 403 are driven in circular translation to move the carton facing surfaces 410 of the glue heads 404 in a path tangent to the upfolded bottom end flaps 34 of the carton blanks and in the same direction as the moving carton blanks in the area of tangency so as to contact the flaps and move therewith for a short interval to assure proper transfer of the glue beads 402 from the transfer ports 411 to the flaps 34 by contact. The rate of movement of the glue applicators 403 being such that the glue heads 404 move at the same speed as the end flaps 34 during this period of contact.

This circular translation of the glue applicators 403 is accomplished by crank arms 434 having outer ends mounted to the undersides of the main carriages 427 and inner ends mounted on the upstanding ends of crankshafts 435 extending from gear boxes 436 mounted on the aforementioned cross plate 401 and driven by chains 437 from the aforementioned main drive shaft 57 with the gear boxes 436 being synchronized so that the glue applicators 403 operate simultaneously to apply glue to a carton blank advancing therebetween. Also, the gear box drives are synchronized with the movement of conveyor flights to bring the glue applicators into carton contacting position in proper timed relation with the advancement of carton blanks.

As mentioned hereinabove, glue is fed to the transfer ports by intermittent rotation of the worms 419 by the drive motors 423. This feeding is timed to occur prior to contact of the end flaps 34 by the transfer ports 411 and is controlled so that no feeding will occur if no carton blank is being advanced to feeding position. The intermittent operation of the worms 419 for feeding of measured amounts of glue to the transfer ports 411 is controlled by a timing switch 438 mounted on the intermediate platform support plate 164 at the feeding station 100 and operated by an adjustable cam 439 carried on the aforementioned timing cam shaft 158, with the cam 439 being adjusted in relation to the operation of the other elements of the machine to actuate glue feeding clutches during an interval in advance of contact of the carton blanks by the glue heads 404. This intermittently actuated timing switch 438 is connected to the glue feeding drive motor clutches 422 in series with a carton blank sensing switch 440 mounted on the rear side plate 216 in advance of the glue applicators. As shown in FIG. 6, this carton blank sensing switch 440 is normally in an open position in which the clutches 422 disengage the glue feeding motors 423 from the worms 419 regardless of the actuation of the aforementioned timing switch 438. The carton blank sensing switch 438 is operated by a bell crank 441 pivoted to the same side plate with a switch finger 442 extending for operation of the switch and a carton blank sensing finger 443 extending upwardly in the path of advancing carton blanks. The bell crank 441 is biased in an open switch position against a stop pin 444 by a spring 445 connected to the bell crank and to the side plate, in which biased position the carton sensing finger is in the path of advancing carton blanks. As a carton blank advances over the carton sensing finger 443, it depresses the finger to rock the bell crank 441 and cause the switch contacting finger 442 to close the carton blank sensing switch 440 :so that closing of the timing switch 438 during this period will cause operation of the clutches 422 for driving the worm to feed measured amounts of glue to the transfer ports 411 for subsequent transfer of glue to the sensed carton blank. When no carton blank is advancing on :the conveyor to the glue applicators, the carton sensing :switch 440 will remain open so that closing of the tim- 'ing switch 438 will not actuate the clutches 422 and no glue will be fed to the transfer ports,

The packaging machine 20 described hereinabove in detail is energized and controlled for automatic operation through the electrical circuitry shown schematically "in FIG. 10. This circuitry includes a primary circuit 500 connected to a 220-volt power source, and a secondary circuit 501 energized by a transformer 503 in the primary circuit 500 to provide 110-volt power in the secondary circuit 501.

The primary circuit 500 has connected in parallel a drive motor line 503, a vacuum pump motor line 504, a heat control line 505, and a transformer line 506. The drive motor line 503 includes the main drive motor 63 and a relay contact 507a on each side thereof operated by a motor start relay 507 in the secondary circuit. The

drive 0101 line also includes an overload circuit breaker 503.

The vacuum pump motor line 504 includes the vacuum pump motor 43 and a relay contact 509a on each side thereof for closing by the vacuum control relay 509 of the secondary circuit, and also includes an overload circuit breaker 510.

The heat control line 505 includes the temperature control rods 425 of the glue applicators 403 and relay contacts 511a on both sides thereof for closing by the heat control relay 511 of the secondary circuit. The heat control rods 425 are connected to the heating elements 424 (not shown in FIG. 10) for heating of the glue applicator bases 415 and glue heads 404.

The transformer line 506 includes the primary winding of the transformer 502 and a main switch 512 operable to close the transformer line 506 to energize the transformer. This main switch 512 is a double-throw switch with another component in the secondary circuit 501 for closing the secondary circuit and energizing the elements thereof.

The secondary circuit 501 has connected in parallel a transformer line 513, a vacuum control line 514, a heat control line 515, a glue motor line 516, a glue motor clutch line 517, a clutch control relay line 518-, and a start and stop line 519.

The transformer line 513 includes the secondary winding of the transformer 502 for -volt input to the secondary circuit 501.

The vacuum control line 514 includes the vacuum control relay 509, which, when energized, closes the relay contacts 509a in the vacuum pump motor line 504 of the primary circuit to energize the vacuum pump motor 43 to create suction in the suction heads 122 and 101 at the feeding station 100. This vacuum control line also includes a switch 520 that is manually operable to close the line, and includes an overhead circuit breaker 520.

The heat control line 515 includes the heat control relay 511 and a manual switch 522 that is closed to energize the heat control relay 511 for closing of the relay contacts 511a in the heat control line 505 of the primary circuit, which energizes the heat control rods 425 and the heating elements 424 in the glue applicators 403 for maintaining the glue at a desired temperature level therein. Connected in parallel with the heat control relay 511 is an indicator light 523 that provides an indication to the operator that the glue applicators are being heated.

The glue motor line 516 includes, connected in parallel, the glue motor 423 for each glue applicator, and a manually operable switch 524 that is closed to energize the glue motors 423, which remain in operation as long as the switch 524 is closed, but do not operate the feeding worms 419 of the glue applicators 403 until the clutches 422 are engaged as described hereinafter. The glue motor line also includes, in parallel with the glue motors, an indicating light 525 to indicate to the operator that the glue motors 423 are energized.

The glue motor clutch line 517 includes a rectifier 526 to which are connected, in parallel, the clutches 422 for the glue motors 423 and relay contacts 527a that are closed by the clutch control relay 527 to energize the clutches, which then engage the glue motors 423 with the feeding worms 419 to cause glue to be fed to the transfer ports 411 of the glue applicators as long as the clutch control relay contacts 527a are closed.

The clutch control relay line 518 includes the clutch control relay 527, which, when energized, closes the aforementioned relay contacts 527a in the clutch line517. The clutch control relay line also includes, in series, the timing switch 438, which is operated from the timing cam shaft 158, and the carton sensing switch 440, which is closed by a carton blank approaching the glue applicators 403. Both of these switches 438 and 440 must be closed to energize the clutch control relay 527. Connected in parallel with the switches is a glue primer switch 528, which can be manually closed to energize the clutch control relay 527 for feeding of glue through the glue applicator to prime the system at the beginning of operation of the machine. Also included in the clutch control relay line 51 8 is a relay contact 50712 operated by the motor start relay 507 to energize the clutch relay line.

The stop and start line 519 includes, in series, a normally closed stop switch 529, a normally open start switch 530 and the motor start relay 507. Connected in parallel with the start switch 530 is a relay contact 5070, which is closed upon energizing of the motor start relay 507 by closing of the start switch 530, so that upon subsequent release of the start switch the relay will remain energized. This motor start relay 507 closes the aforementioned relay contact 50% in the clutch control relay line 518 and also closes the relay contacts 507a mentioned above in the drive motor line 503 of the primary circuit.

As seen in FIG. 1, the electrical controls may be mounted in a housing 531 at the rear of the machine above the level of the conveyor and in general alignment with the loading station 300 for convenient manipulation of the various switches by the operator, who would normally be stationed at the loading station. This housing 531 is mounted on an extension of the hold-down plow support plate 214 and has mounted on its front face, a main control switch button, a vacuum control switch button, a heat control switch button, a glue motor switch button, a stop switch button, and a start switch button, each of which operates its corresponding switch.

The machine is placed in operation by first depressing the main control button to close the main switch 512. The vacuum control switch button, the heat control switch button, and the glue motor switch button is then depressed to energize the vacuum pump motor 43, the heating elements 424 and the .glue motors 423. The machine is then ready to begin operation, which is started by depressing the start switch button, which energizes the motor start relay 507, which in turn energizes the drive motor 63 to begin operation of the conveyor 24 and the carton blank removing and delivering means 105 and 107 at the feeding station 100. This motor start relay 507 also closes the contact 5072; in the clutch control relay line 513. The glue applicators 403 are then primed by depressing the glue primer switch 520 in the clutch control relay line 518 to prepare the glue applicators for application of glue to the advancing cartons.

As the carton transferring and turning means 105 is withdrawing vertically disposed carton blanks singly from the supply hopper 102 and depositing them on the intermediate platform 106, the delivery means 107 is translating carton blanks singly from the intermediate platform onto the conveyor 24 between flights 39 and 40 of each pair of flights. The conveyor carries the carton blanks serially through the setting-up station 200 to set up the carton blanks as illustrated in FIGS. 12 through 14, and described in detail hereinabove. As the carton blanks progress continuously on the conveyor, they are end-loaded at the loading station 300 and the end flaps 33 and 34 and tabs 35 and 36 are folded as shown in FIG. 16 and described hereinabove, with the bottom end flaps 34 upfolded for receipt of glue, and the top end flaps 33 remaining unfolded. The loaded carton blanks then pass over the carton blank sensing bell crank 441 to close the corresponding switch 440 for energizing of the clutch control relay 527 upon closing of the timing switch 438 by the cam 439 on the timing cam shaft 158 for actuation of the glue feeding worms 419 as the glue applicators are translated toward contact with the upturned bottom end flaps 34 of the approaching carton blank, with the glue applicators being circularly translated continuously by the driving connection from the main drive shaft 57, which is continuously driven by the drive motor 63 as long as the aforementioned motor start relay 507 is energized.

The beads 402 of glue that are fed to the transfer ports 411 by operation of the glue motors 423 are transferred by contact to the bottom end flaps 34 of the carton blanks during the short period of contiguous movement of the glue heads 404 with the bottom end flaps 34. As the carton blanks progress past the glue applicators, the top end flaps 33 are folded down onto the gluebearing bottom end flaps and held there/against by the final folding plows 232 until the carton blank is discharged at the end of the conveyor as a completely sealed and loaded package.

The machine continues to operate automatically until the stop switch button is depressed, thereby de-energizing the motor start relay 507, which in turn opens the relay contacts 507b, 5070 and 507a in the clutch control relay line 518, in the motor start relay line 519, and in the drive motor line 503, thus de-energizing the clutch control relay to stop feeding of glue to the transfer ports and de-energizing the drive motor to stop the drive to all moving parts, except the glue motors, which are stopped by turning the main operating switch button to off position. The vacuum pump motor 43 is independently turned off by turning the vacuum control relay switch button to off position, and the heat control is turned off by turning the heat control relay switch button to off position.

It should be noted that the glue applicators of the above-described preferred embodiment of the present invention could be used to apply any liquid, such as an adhesive, a wax, or other liquid material, and could be adapted for use with machines other than packaging rnachines, such as paperboard folding machines. Also, the glue applicators could be used to apply adhesive to any line of articles and could be used without heat for subsequent heat sealing at some time or place beyond the glue applicator.

With these glue applicators, predetermined measured amounts of glue can be presented in head form for application to an article with the surface tension of the beads preventing dripping, such that there is a substantial reduction in the amount of glue used to the extent of less than half as much as used in conventional glue applicating devices.

When using the glue applicators to apply hot-melt glue, the temperature control provided by the present invention results in a positive control of surface tension of the glue beads to avoid dripping and to control in conjunction with the transfer port configuration and glue feeding operation the amount of glue that can be supplied in each bead.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of feeding collapsed, sleeve-type carton blanks from a supply onto a moving conveyor and settingup the carton blanks thereon for end loading, said carton blanks being characterized by serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels in an initially collapsed condition in which one side wall panel underlies the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlies the bottom wall panel, said method comprising disposing a supply of said collapsed carton blanks in a hopper adjacent the moving conveyor with the carton blanks in a row, periodically removing said collapsed carton blanks singly from said supply and placing said removed carton blanks on an intermediate platform, periodically transfering carton blanks from said intermediate platform onto the moving conveyor in a generally horizontal disposition and in timed relation to said removal of carton blanks from said supply, setting-up the carton blanks on the moving conveyor by folding both the underlying side wall panel and the top wall panel portion thereabove to a generally upright disposition with respect to said bottom wall panel and subsequently unfolding said top wall panel portion about the juncture with said underlying side wall. panel, thereby separating said top and bottom wall panels and setting-up said carton for end loading.

2. A method of setting-up a collapsed, sleeve-type, carton blank for end loading, said carton blank being characterized by serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels in an initially collapsed condition in which one side wall panel underlies the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlies the bottom wall panel, said method comprising folding both said underlying side Wall panel and the top wall panel portion thereabove to a generally upright disposition with respect to said bottom wall panel, and unfolding said top wall panel portion about the juncture with said underlying side wall panel, thereby separating said top and bottom wall panels and setting-up said carton blank for end loading.

3. A method for setting-up a collapsed, sleeve-type, carton blank according to claim 2 in which said carton blank is'characterized further in that said top wall panel extends endwise beyond said underlying side wall panel and said unfolding is accomplished by applying an upward unfolding pressure on the underside of the extent of said top wall panel beyond said underlying side wall panel.

4. A method of setting-up a collapsed, sleeve-type, carton blank for end loading, said carton blank being characterized by serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels in an initially collapsed condition in which the side wall panels lie flat with one side wall panel underlying the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlying the bottom wall panel, said method comprising folding both said underlying side wall panel and the portion of the top wall panel thereabove to a generally upright disposition with respect to said bottom wall panel, retaining said underlying side wall panel in said generally upright disposition while unfolding said top wall panel portion about the juncture with said underlying side wall panel to a generally horizontal disposition, thereby raising said top wall panel from said bottom wall panel and erecting said overlying side wall panel, and, while retaining said underlying side wall panel in said generally upright disposition, inclining said erected overlying side wall panel slightly inwardly to cause an upward bowing of said top wall panel to facilitate endwise loading of contents into the thusly set-up carton blank.

5. A method of setting-up a collapsed, sleeve-type carton blank for end loading, said carton blank being characterized by serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels in an initially collapsed condition in which the side wall panels lie fiat with one side wall panel underlying the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlying the bottom wall panel and with an unbroken score line at the juncture of the top wall panel and the overlying side wall panel, said method comprising folding said underlying side wall panel to a generally upright disposition with respect to said bottom wall panel and separating said top wall panel with said unbroken score line resisting a fully upright disposition of the overlying side wall panel with respect to the top wall panel such that the overlying side wall panel is slightly inclined and causes a bowing of the top wall panel that facilitates insertion of contents into the thusly set-up carton blank.

6. A method of setting-up a collapsed, sleeve-type, carton blank for end loading, said carton blank being characterized by serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels in an initially collapsed condition in which the side wall panels lie flat with one side wall panel underlying the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlying the bottom wall panel and with an unbroken score line at the juncture of the top wall panel and the overlying side wall panel, said method comprising folding both said underlying side wall panel and the top wall panel portion thereabove to a generally upright disposition with respect to said bottom wall panel, unfolding said top wall panel portion about the juncture with said underlying side wall panel and separating said top wall panel from said bottom wall panel, thus setting-up the carton blank with said unbroken score line resisting a fully upright disposition of the overlying side Wall panel with respect to said top wall panel such that the overlying side wall is slightly inclined and causes a bowing of the top wall panel that facilitates insertion of contents into the thusly set-up carton blank.

7. A method of forming a package from a collapsed, sleeve-type carton blank that has serially connected top, bottom and opposed side wall panels disposed in an initially collapsed condition in which the side wall panels lie fiat with one side wall panel underlying the top wall panel and the other side wall panel overlying the bottom wall panel and with end flaps extending outwardly from each end of the top and bottom wall panels, said method comprising folding both said underlying side wall panel and the portion of the top wall panel thereabove to a gen erally upright disposition with respect to both the bottom wall panel and the remainder of the top wall panel, retaining said underlying side Wall panel in said generally upright disposition while unfolding said top wall panel portion about the juncture with said underlying side wall panel to a generally horizontal disposition and thereby raising said top wall panel above the bottom wall panel and erecting said overlying side wall panel, loading contents endwise into the carton blank between the separated top and bottom wall panels, folding one end flap at each end into an end closing disposition, measuring amounts of glue in bead form for application to said folded end flaps, applying said measured amounts of glue by contact to said folded end flaps to secure the flaps together and thereby seal the ends of the package.

8. A method of closing and sealing a carton that has serially connected top, bottom and opposed side walls and end flaps extending outwardly from each end of the top and bottom walls, said method comprising folding one end flap at each end of the carton into an end closing disposition, measuring amounts of glue in bead form for application to said folded end flaps, applying said measured amounts of glue by contact to said folded end flaps, and folding the other end flaps over the glue bearing flaps to secure the flaps together and thereby seal the ends of the package.

9. A method of closing and sealing a carton according to claim 8 and characterized further in that said glue is a hot-melt glue and said method includes maintaining the measured beads of hot-melt glue at an elevated temperature prior to application to said carton ends.

10. A method of closing and sealing cartons in a continuous process, said cartons having an open end with a pair of end flaps extending outwardly thereat and foldable for closing said open end, said method comprising continuously advancing cartons with their open ends facing laterally through a preliminary folding station, past a glue applicator and through a final folding station, folding one end flap into end closing disposition as each carton progresses continuously through said preliminary folding station, feeding measured amounts of hot-melt glue to a carton contacting surface of the glue applicator, maintaining the measured amounts of hot-melt glue at an elevated temperature suflicient to render the glue transferable by contact, revolving said applicator in timed relation to the progression of cartons into contact and momentary movement with the folded end flap of a progressing carton for transfer of the measured amount of hotmelt glue to the folded end flap, and folding the other end flap over the glue bearing flap as the carton progresses continuously through the final folding station and while the glue is still hot enough to secure the flaps together and thereby seal the end of the package.

11. A method of closing and sealing cartons in a continuous process, said cartons having opposed open ends with end flaps extending outwardly thereat and foldable for closing of the open ends, said method comprising continuously advancing cartons with their open ends facing laterally through a preliminary folding station, between 

7. A METHOD OF FORMING A PACKAGE FROM A COLLAPSED, SLEEVE-TYPE CARTON BLANK THAT HAS SERIALLY CONNECTED TOP, BOTTOM AND OPPOSED SIDE WALL PANELS DISPOSED IN AN INITIALLY COLLAPSED CONDITION IN WHICH THE SIDE WALL PANELS LIE FLAT WITH ONE SIDE WALL PANEL UNDERLYING THE TOP WALL PANEL AND THE OTHER SIDE WALL PANEL OVERLYING THE BOTTOM WALL PANEL AND WITH END FLAPS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM EACH END OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM WALL PANELS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING FOLDING BOTH SAID UNDERLYING SIDE WALL PANEL AND THE PORTION OF THE TOP WALL PANEL THEREABOVE TO A GENERALLY UPRIGHT DISPOSITION WITH RESPECT TO BOTH THE BOTTOM WALL PANEL AND THE REMAINDER OF THE TOP WALL PANEL, RETAINING SAID UNDERLYING SIDE WALL PANEL IN SAID GENERALLY UPRIGHT DISPOSITION WHILE UNFOLDING SAID TOP WALL PANEL PORTION ABOUT THE JUNCTURE WITH SAID UNDERLYING SIDE WALL PANEL TO A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DISPOSITION AND THEREBY RAISING SAID TOP WALL PANEL ABOVE THE BOTTOM WALL PANEL AND ERECTING SAID OVERLYING SIDE WALL PANEL, LOADING CONTENTS ENDWISE INTO THE CARTON BLANK BETWEEN THE SEPARATED TOP AND BOTTOM WALL PANELS, FOLDING ONE END FLAP AT EACH END INTO AN END CLOSING DISPOSITION, MEASURING AMOUNTS OF GLUE IN BEAD FORM FOR APPLICATION TO SAID FOLDED END FLAPS, APPLYING SAID MEASURED AMOUNTS OF GLUE BY CONTACT TO SAID FOLDED END FLAPS TO SECURE THE FLAPS TOGETHER AND THEREBY SEAL THE ENDS OF THE PACKAGE. 